"Mind watching my bags? I gotta go pee."
 
I nod to Miki as she drops the shopping bag onto the bench next to me, my eyelids struggling to stay open. "Thanks, Suzu," she says, giving me a smile and a nod. "I'll be right back." She turns and runs off into the ladies' room, leaving me sitting alone on the bench.
 
I hate being sleepy in the middle of the day. Especially after I've been getting a good eight hours of sleep every night.
 
I can't. . .
 
I close my eyes. Just for a moment.
 
THE FLOOR OPENS UP, AND THE SNAKES RISE UP TO WRAP AROUND MY ANKLES. I HEAR THE BUZZING OF TEN BILLION ANGRY BEES IN MY EARS. THE SCREAMING OF A HOWLING WOLF STALKING THE NIGHT, SEEKING MY BLOOD, AS THE CACKLING SOUND OF THE WITCH'S ANGRY SHRIEKS CALL MY NAME: "SUZU. . . SUZU. . ."
 
". . . Suzu?"
 
I flinch as I come fully awake, gasping for breath, my heart pounding. . . looking up into the face of a concerned girl staring intently into my eyes.
 
What's her name again? Oh yeah. . .
 
". . . Ikezawa-san," I try to say politely. . . but my voice cracks, and I feel my throat tighten. I have to cough and take a deep breath before I can try again. "Ikezawa-san. What are you doing here?" I ask softly.
 
"I was here shopping for some. . . some clothes. And I saw you slump over on the bench. Are you all right, Suzuki-san?"
 
"I'm. . ."
 
No, I'm not fine. I'm falling asleep in the middle of the day. I'm having terrifying nightmares every time I do so. I'm not fine.
 
". . . I just had a bit of a bad dream, is all," I admit to her.
 
Ikezawa nods to me sympathetically as she adjusts the fringe of hair over the scarred right side of her face. As she does so, I can get a good, clear look at the criss-crossing array of angry red scars on the back of her hand. She hesitates before picking up her shopping bag again.
 
". . . I have bad dreams too," she admits.
 
"Oh."
 
What else am I supposed to say to that?
 
". . . it makes me afraid to fall asleep again," she goes on. ". . . I think that's the worst part. That the nightmares take my sleep away. Does that make sense?"
 
"Yeah," I agree. "It makes a lot of sense."
 
Hanako nods again to me furtively before turning to walk away.
 
"Suzuki-san?" she says softly.
 
"Yes, Ikezawa?"
 
". . . nothing. Have a nice day."
 
She dashes away quickly, keeping her head down and covering her face with her right hand a bit, her loud footsteps echoing through the mall. . .
 
I lean back against the bench again and look up at the blue sky through the skylight in the ceiling.
 
. . . nightmares do take your sleep away. Unless you're the kind of person who can't decide when sleep comes or not.
 
I close my eyes again, just for a moment.